Hyundai's Near Perfect SUV
Written: Jul 17 '04
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Pros: Roomy, car-like ride, features and warranty at an unbelievable price.
Cons: Gas Mileage depending on Engine choice.
The Bottom Line: Highly Recommended. Anyone in the need of an SUV will find a Santa Fe that fits their lifestyle at an extradorinary price.
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| spitz1's Full Review: 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe 2WD |
The Hyundai Santa Fe, first introduced in 2001 has become a HUGE success for the korean automaker. At first there were waiting lists of buyers wanting to become owners, and 3 years later Santa Fe's are still selling like hot cakes. With both car and SUV attributes, it's no wonder why it has become so popular.
Models Available:
Base Front-wheel-drive (2.4L 138 Horse 4-Cylinder)
GLS Front/All-wheel-drive (2.7L 173 Horse V6)
GLS 3.5 Front/All-wheel-drive (3.5L 200 Horse V6)
LX Front/All-wheel-drive (3.5L 200 Horse V6)
EXTERIOR:
The exterior is still unique and bold 3 years later. You either love it or you hate it. The nose and fenders are a bit overdone to most. All Santa Fe's are fitted with the same 16" alloy wheels, roof rails and gray lower body cladding. All materials are of good quality and fit and finish is well done. The rear hatch can be opened completely via the nifty handle, or you can simply push a latch to open just the rear glass window for easier access to the cargo.
INTERIOR:
The dash is also somewhat unsual looking but I find it appealing to the eye. Gauges are easily seen and instrumentation is logically placed and easy to reach. The materials aren't by any means luxurious, but for a $ 20,000 SUV, the materials are of excellent quality.
The front seats are pretty comfortable and offer manual adjustments to find the right spot. The backseat is roomy for 2 and a bit of a squeeze for 3 passengers. The backseat doesn't fold completely flat, either.
The interior has features galore. Standard a/c, heated power mirrors, power locks and windows, am/fm cd player, folding rear seatback and front & rear 12-volt accessory outlets are just a few of the standard features.
All GLS's feature fog lamps, a very nice Monsoon cd/cassette player, and remote keyless entry w/alarm as standard equipment.
The top of the line LX features standard heated leather seats, ABS/Traction control, automatic climate control, HomeLink Transmitter and a Monsoon 6-Disc In-Dash cd changer.
The view out is another plus for the Santa Fe. With the rear seats folded, you have a lot of room for any bulky items or luggage you may need for your weekend getaway. To hide your valuables, simply cover them up with the retractable cargo cover or keep it secured with the cargo net.
PERFORMANCE:
2.4L 16-Valve DOHC 4-CYL: Tepid acceleration off the line and overworked while trying to merge onto interstate traffic. Can get noisy when pushed hard. Averages 20mpg in city and 27 on highway.
2.7L 24-Valve DOHC V6: Adequate acceleration off the line and does well on entrance ramps as well as everyday driving. Fairly quiet whether working hard, or hardly working. Averages 20mpg in city and 26 on highway.
3.5L 24-Valve DOHC V6: Great acceleration off the line or anywhere for that matter. The 3.5L is quieter than the 2.7L but does cost you at the pump. While accelerating you hear a nice healthy growl from the exhaust. Averages 16mpg in city and 22 on highway.
Handling and SUV's don't mix well. The Santa Fe handles quite well for a mid-size SUV. While taking sharp curves in SUV's aren't recommended, the Santa Fe never gives you the feeling you are tipping, the feeling a lot of SUV owners know all too well.
The ride is extremely comfortable, thanks to the car platform the Santa Fe is riding on. The ride is never stiff or jumpy and the suspension tends to take bumps/potholes quite well.
With standard 4-wheel disc brakes, braking isn't a problem for the Santa Fe. It stops in a short distance with very minimal brake fade. The available ABS/Traction control fixes that problem.
SAFETY:
Not only does the Santa Fe come standard with dual front airbags and dual front side impact airbags, but the Santa Fe also has been awarded a 5-Star safety rating.
Front-Wheel-Drive or All-Wheel-Drive???
While most SUV's offer rear-wheel-drive (RWD) or part-time four-wheel-drive (4WD), the Santa Fe offers standard front-wheel (FWD) and optional full-time all-wheel-drive (AWD). While most people can get by with the standard FWD, only those living in the country or the hills will find paying extra for AWD worth it.
VALUE:
With prices starting out well under $ 20K and topping out at $ 27K, the Santa Fe is a no-brainer. With a roomy interior, more features than the competition, a car-like ride, a price thousands below others in it's class and a 10-Year warranty, the Santa Fe is hard to beat. Recently, Hyundai's quality has also been upgraded and is currently tied with Honda in 2nd place, behind Toyota. So all of you that are still not sure about buying a Hyundai because of the quality concerns that were made well-known in the 80's and early 90's, go check one out, you'll be surprised.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 24K
Model Year: 2004
Model and Options: Santa Fe GLS 3.5L
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Epinions.com ID:
spitz1
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Location: Council Bluffs, IA, USA
Reviews written: 9
Trusted by: 1 member
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